By Bill Sugnet
On the weekend of 8/27/28 a group from our High Desert Region drove with our leader Pete Olson to Jacksonville OR to stay at the Country Inn and start the weekend with a lunch and wine tasting.
Bill & Denise Land, Denise & Darwyn Pearl, Hete & Bill Sugnet tasting wine at Woolridge Creek Winery
And then, a grand dinner at the historic Jacksonville Inn sponsored by The Cascade Region & led by their president Ross Rampy. We met some of the Cascade Region members over wine and an excellent dinner where Ross told us the plans for the next day’s events at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in neighboring Central Point.
Sunday, bright and early, we met at a large parking lot where Cascade & High Desert leaders were laying out 4 courses.
Cones, cones, cones, Porsches, Porsches, Porsches....
Seasoned instructor, Bill Bauer explained the goals & events of the day. The first course was a skid pad, the second a slalom course, the third for braking and avoidance maneuvering and the fourth a challenging figure 8.
Bill Bauer (red shirt) holding the morning drivers meeting
It was a very hot day but Pete, Tim Hagner & Mike Simmons worked the course with Bob Maler & several of the Cascade club volunteers, along with pro Bill Bauer from Seattle. They stayed in the sun all day encouraging a very diverse group of men & women ages late teens, thru early 80’s driving mostly Porsche vehicles of all varieties, plus a neat 1962 Chevelle (driven by an excellent lady driver) and also a BMW convertible.
A delicious brown bag lunch was served and lots of chilled water was provided at all areas of the courses. We were in 4 groups and we got to know our fellow drivers to share the fun experiences. All went well & all went home tired & happy.
Special thanks to the Cascade Region members for inviting us & sharing an event that could not be duplicated at a dedicated track without much greater expense.